Carciofi or Artichokes are everywhere at the moment and there are so many ways to enjoy them.  I used to shy away from cooking with them as was unsure of the preparation and thought it too complicated and time-consuming which is so not true. When artichokes are at their best, they are so tender that […]

As many of you know, I love my food!  Having a mother who was an excellent cook and a father who wholesales fruit and vegetables meant that we always ate excellent produce in abundance.  So I love nothing more than a wander around a market and the opportunity to taste the latest seasons’ offerings.  Last […]

Even though it is still quite chilly in the mornings, Spring has started to show her gorgeous face with lots of sunshine, new flowers in bloom and new season fruit & vegetables in abundance!  People just seem to be happier too, walking around smiling as they soak up the first rays of the warmer sun. Here […]

[ebook_store ebook_id=”5275″] March is known as the Pazzerello (crazy) month due to the unpredictable weather.   It is a beautiful time to explore Tuscany, from the country to the coast, to view the changing landscape and ‘awakening’ after the long, cold Winter. We are very excited to launch our new feature, ‘Cocktail of the Month’ which […]

On the 8th of March it is tradition to give all women a little bunch of Mimosa, a delicate, bright yellow flower to celebrate  the ‘Festa della Donna’  (International Women’s Day)   When I first saw this flower in abundance here, I was quite surprised as was sure that this was the Wattle tree and native only to […]

The first time I walked into Coco Lezzone and every time since I am welcomed by the delicious aromas and homely atmosphere that reminds me of my mother’s kitchen.  Unpretentious in their decor and hospitality,  you too will feel like one of the family as Gloria and her staff tempt you with their traditional Florentine […]

For those of you following the Viareggio Carnevale this month, you may have seen the iconic ‘clown’ dressed in the red and white costume, affectionately known as Burlamacco.   As well as being the Carnival mascot, he is also the town mascot for Viareggio and you can admire a permanent statue of him on the Lungomare […]

The Most Romantic Tuscan Town One morning in early February of 2017, as the sun was shining, I made a last-minute decision after dropping Thomas at day-care to take the 90-minute drive to the small town of Pienza, a town and comune in the province of Siena, located between the towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino in […]

If there’s one thing to look forward to in February, then it’s the many sweet treats that start to fill the local bakeries. As in many other parts of the world, it is time for Carnival in Tuscany.  The first indication that the Carnival Season is here are the beautiful sweets that start to appear […]